Roller skate



Fatented May 13, 1924.

Tris

ream

Pf E T orrlcs.

THEODORE ossnann, or BROOKLYN. NEW YORK.

'RO'LLER SKATE.

Application filed July 6,

dent of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Im proved RollerSk-ate, of which the following is a full, clear; and exact description.

This invention relates to roller skates and aims for its principal object 'to produce an extremely simple and inexpensive. roller skate whereby the same can be made to retail at an extremely low price in order to bring the same within reach of persons of very limited means.

As a further object the invention aims to produce a roller skate which is designed more especially for the purposes of safety than for'speed, whereby the same is particularly useful to beginners and children.

As a still further object the invention aims to produce a roller skate which is so constructed as to be applicable to either the right or left foot and which is of very light construction and supports'the foot close to the ground.

As a still further object the invention contemplates. the provision of a roller skate which is so constructed as to yieldably support the foot whereby to absorb the ordinary shock and jars incident to its use.

lVith the above recited and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel construction set forth in the following specification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the right is reserved to embodiments other than those actually illustrated herein to the full extent indicated by the general meaning of the terms in which the claims are expressed.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a plan view of a roller skate constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough taken approximately on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line indicated at 33 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the improved skate applied to the foot.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the skate includes a rigid truck 1923. Serial No. 649,896.

member 10 P a y Consisting of a strip 2":

of sheet metal which is curved upwardly as at 11 at the forward end and is provided for the major portion of its length with downturned side ed es 12 constitutin strengthening flanges to minimize the ,possibility of bendingofthe same. To the under side of the truck 10, front and rear bearhogs-13 and 14: are attached, the former consisting of a strip'of material bent medially upon itself into circular form to provide an axial bearing 15 which is preferably centrally slotted for a portion of its circumference. The ends of the strip from the circular axle bearing portion extend upwardly in parallel relation to provide a shank 16 and the terminals thereof are bent respectively at an angle to .underlie and flatly engage the under side of the truck body 10, said terminals being secured thereto in any desired mannernto rigidly associate the bearing with the truck body 10. Each pair of walls 17 is preferably formed integral with the axle 18 and said axle is received in the circular bearing portion 15. The axle is provided with longitudinally spaced circumferential serrations 19 whereby a minimum surface engages the bearing to reduce friction. Each of the wheels is provided with a circumferential groove 20 in which a suitable tire 21 is arranged, the same projecting beyond the periphery of the wheel. A yieldable foot rest 22 consisting preferably of a strip of sheet metal conforming substantially to the shape of the tread of a shoe is provided and the same is formed with a complementary upturned forward end 23 which is secured to the up turned forward end 11 of the truck body by a rivet 24. Preferably a yieldable block 25 such as rubber, is interposed between the upturned ends in order to allow for a limited amount of play between the foot rest 22 and the truck body 10. The rear end of the foot rest is downturned and slitted inwardly to provide a central tongue 26 which projects through a transverse slot 27 in the truck body 10 and a pair of spring terminals 28 which rest on the upper surface of the truck body 10 whereby the rear end of the foot rest is yieldably supported from the rigid truck body in order that the ordinary shocks and jars incident to the use of the skate are partially absorbed. Adjacent its forward end the foot rest 22 is provided with upwardly and inwardly curved ears 29 which are designed to embrace and engage with the sides of the forward portion .of the shoe. Adjacent the rear end the sides of the foot rest are provided with upturned lips 30 having slots 31 through which a strap or any other suitable fastening means 32 is designed to be trained for associating the rear portion of the shoe with the foot rest.

In use and operation a foot resting on the foot rest 22 is yieldably supported from the truck body 10 which in turn is supported by the wheels 17. Under this arrangement the ordinary shocks and jars incident to the use of the skate are partially absorbed by the yieldable foot rest. It will be further noted that the skate has an extremely long wheel base and supports the foot relatively close to the ground whereby it is safer in use for beginners or children. It will be further noted that the construction renders the skate capable of production at a very low cost, yet sufficiently strong and durable to withstand ordinary usage.

I claim: a

I. In a roller skate, a rigid truck having supporting rollers, a foot rest yieldably attachedat its opposite ends to the truck body, said foot rest terminating short of the rear end of the truck body and provided with a downtu'rned tongue extending through the truck body, and spring fingers at opposite sides of the tongue resting on the upper surface of the truck body.

2. In a roller skate. a rigid truck body having supporting rollers adjacent its front and rear ends, and a foot rest yieldably fulcrunied at the forward end to the forward end of the truck body and extending up wardly and rearwardly at an angle thereto, the said rear end of the foot rest having a downturned tongue extending through the truck body and provided with means normally tending to maintain the rear end elevate 3. In a roller skate, a rigid substantially channel shaped truck body having supporting rollers j ournaled in the under side thereof adjacent its opposite ends, the said truck body having an upwardly curved forward end, a foot rest having a complemetary upwardly curved forward end, a yieldable connection between the forward ends of the foot rest and truck body, a downturned extremity at the rear end of the truck body provided with a tongue extending through a slot formed in the truck body, and downturned spring fingers resting upon the upper surface of the body for normally elevating the rear end of the foot rest.

4:. In a roller skate, arigid substantially channel shaped truck body having supporting rollers ournaled in the under side thereof adjacent its opposite ends, the said truck body having an upwardly curved forward end, a foot rest having a complementary upwardly curved forward end, a yieldahle connection between the forward ends of the foot rest and truck body, a downturned extremity at the rear end of the truck body provided with a tongue extending through a slot formed in the truck body, downturned spring fingers resting upon the upper surface of the body for normally elevating the rear end of the foot rest, foot embracing lugs at the opposite sides of the forward end of the foot rest. and slotted lips adjacent the rear end adapted to receive means for embracing the rear of the foot for holding the skate in applied position.

THEODORE BOSSHARD. 

